I just finished reading the history of the Israelites from their deliverance from Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land. This was a trek that went from being a few months to a grueling 40 years due to their disobedience. And I wondered, what if ...
What if, when Moses was on Mount Sinai meeting with God, the people had waited in patience and reverence rather than creating and worshiping the golden calf?
What if, when they lacked water in the wilderness, they had entreated the Lord to provide for them, rather than blaming him for their thirst?
What if, when the spies came back from scouting Canaan, the twelve tribes had chosen to believe God and ask for his continued guidance and blessing, rather than falling into fear and doubt?
What if ... what if ... what if ...
We can never know what “would have happened” in the past. But we can find out “what will happen” in the future if we take these lessons to heart ...
We can see for ourselves what will happen when, if God ‘delays’ in answering our prayers, we continue to wait in patience and reverence rather than turning away from him because he isn’t complying with our expectations.
We can see for ourselves what will happen when, if we are in need, we humbly ask God to supply our needs rather than griping and complaining that life is hard.
We can see for ourselves what will happen when, if we are confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles – veritable ‘giants in the land’ – we stand firm in our faith in God, the LORD of hosts, and ask him to go before us, to lead us, and to strengthen us to overcome.
“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:11-13)
Comments